Container with inner packing



Jan. 2, 1962 J. T. MAGAZZU CONTAINER WITH INNER PACKING 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 12, 1960 Jan. 2, 1962 J. T. MAGAZZU 3,

CONTAINER WITH INNER PACKING Filed Feb. 12, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 2, 1962 J. T. MAGAZZU CONTAINER WITH INNER PACKING 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 12, 1960 limited Sim 7 Claims. (Cl. 229-14) The present invention relates to shipping containers combined with internal packing and supporting structure, particularly designed for safe transportation of cylindrical articles such as door knob units which include locking -echanism within the unit.

An important object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple, inexpensive and easily set up inner packing construction which may be arranged within a shipping container to support a lock-type door lmob assembly inside the container and maintain the knob assembly normally away from direct contact with the interior wall surfaces of the container, thus tending to prevent damage to the knob assembly in case the package is subjected to rough handling.

Another object is to provide interior packing for a door knob assembly or similar unit which, in addition to supporting the knob unit effectively, will also accommodate additional parts such as the latch element, keeper plate and other small items.

A further object is to provide parts integral with the container, cooperating with the inner packing structure to maintain it in proper position within the container.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention:

PEG. 1 is a perspective view of a container and inner packing structure showing such structure in place, but without the article, and showing the hinged cover ready to be swung down to close the container;

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are perspective views showin respectively the top and bottom inner packing members apart from the container and in positions separated from each other but ready to be moved into assembled relation;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bottom inner packing member as it appears in partial folded condition, just before being brought to its completed form;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a preferred form of blank for use in forming the bottom member of the inner packing;

PEG. 6 is a plan view of a preferred form of blank for the top member of the inner packing;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the top member inverted and showing one panel swung somewhat away from final position;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view with the cover cut away along section line 88 of FIG. 9, showing in broken lines a door knob unit assembly and will additional parts disposed in separate compartments provided by the inner packing members;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8, showing the door knob unit in broken lines; and

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a preferred form of blank from which the shipping container may be formed.

The shipping container and the inner packing members may be formed from any suitable type of foldable sheet material, such as corrugated paperboard or a solid folding paperboard. The inner packing is illustrated as being in two separate members suitably cut and folded to provide supporting sections preferably of multiple thickness and suitably notched or cut to fit the cylindrical, central section of the door knob assembly, thereby tending to hold it firmly within the interior of the container and out of contact with the container wmls. Along one wall of the container the inner packing members provide a plurality of cells or compartments for small parts necessary to be assembled on the door and door frame and which cooperate with the knob assembly.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the container, indicated as a whole at ill, is of rectangular, sixwalled form and has two inner packing members therein, indicated as a whole at 11 and 12. The member 11 rests on the bottom of the container and may be termed the bottom member. The top member 12 is arranged to be inter-fitted with the bottom member and has portions against which the top wall or cover of the container may hear.

The container 1i? may conveniently be made from a single blank of corrugated paperboard as illustrated in FIG. 10. This blank is suitably cut and scored or creased to provide a bottom wall panel 15, front and rear side walls 16 and i7 hinged to the panel 15, and narrower side wall panels 18, 18 hinged to the ends of the wall 17. The wall panel 16 preferably carries additional wall panels 19, 19 adapted to overlap and reinforce the panels 18, 13.

The panels 18, 18 each preferably carries a hinged panel 2A3, each of which is foldable inside the container to lie against the adjacent panel 19. Additional panels 21, 21, carried on the respective outer edges of panels 26, 20 are foldable so as to lie relatively flat against the bottom panel 15. Each panel 18 also carries at its lower edge a short fiap 22 which is folded in to lie against the bottom panel 15.

A cover panel 2-3 is hinged to the edge of panel 17 and carries a tuck flap 23'. The cover preferably has a dimension parallel to its hinge suificient to permit its ends to rest on the top edges of the composite side walls formed by panels l8, l9 and 2%. The fold between panels 13 and 2% comprises two score lines to provide a narrow strip 24 which forms the top of each composite side wall. See FIG. 9.

The major portions of the panels 21, 21 are preferably of a length at right angles to their hinge lines somewhat less than one-half the corresponding dimension of the container. As herein shown, see FIGS. 9 and 10, the panels 21, 21 at their free edges have portions 25, 25 extending somewhat beyond the terminal edges 25, 26 of the major extent of the panels. By this construction, when the panels are folded to lie fiat on the container bottom, the edges 26, 26, being somewhat widely separated, may constitute abutment edges or elements for portions of the inner pack ng members. This will be explained as the description proceeds.

As illustrated in PI-GS. 8 and 9, the cylindrical article to be supported by the inner packing, herein shown as a lock-type door knob assembly, is held or cushioned from downward movement by the bottom packing member 11 and from upward movement by the top member 12. The support ng surfaces of these members are notched or recessed to prevent forward or rearward shifting, and, in the event the article includes spaced collars or flange type parts, such collars, by engaging the packing members, prevent shifting of the article parallel to its longitudinal axis.

Referring first to the bottom packing member, this member preferably comprises one or more elongated portions notched to support the cylindrical article, and includes one or more portions extending laterally and adapted to rest list on the bottom of the container. The bottom member also preferably includes one or more upstanding panels adapted to engage against a wall of the container to prevent the member shifting in the direction of the panel or panels. Such panel or panels also constitute division means for providing a plurality of cells or compartments along a wall of the container, as will presently be made apparent.

The top packing member comprises one or more downwardly presented portions, generally aligned in parallelism with the article supporting portion of the bottom member, such downwardly presented portion or portions being notched to fit around upwardly disposed curved surfaces or" the article to be packed. The top member also provides a suriace portion for engagement with the inside surface of the container top Wall or cover. In ad dition, this member includes a combined spacer and partition element in the form of a panel extending transversely to the article engaging portion of the member and adapted to engage edgewise against the opposite side walls of the container to help prevent shifting of the top member. This panel, together with the upstanding panels serves to form a plurality of small cells or compartments in the container, separated from the main compartment which contains the principal article to be packed.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the bottom packing member 11 comprises a single blank of foldable paperboard which is cut, scored-and slotted to provide two multi-thickness panels, indicated generally at 35, 35 joined by a connecting panel, indicated generally at 31. The panels 30, 39, as herein shown, comprise two thic. nesses of board provided by sub panels 32, 53 and 32, 33, each set being hinged along doublescore lines 34, 35, forming a narrow top 36 on each partition 39.

The connecting panel 31 is formed from two sub panels '38 and 39 hinged along spaced score lines 4i? and 41 pro viding a narrow top 42. The panels 38 and 39 are foldably connected to the adjoining panels 32, 32 and 33, 33 by score lines 43, 43 and 44, 44. To facilitate folding of V the blank to its erected position die-cut holes indicated at 45, 45 are formed at the meeting corners of the panels; I I

Die-cut openings 47 and 48 are formed in the groups of sub panels 32, 33 and 32, 33, preferably symmetrical with the score lines 3 and 35 of each group. The openings 47 and 48 could be of the same size but in the present instance the opening 48 is shown as substantially larger than opening 47 to enable it to accommodate an enlarged cylindrical portion on the article to be packed. Upon folding the packing member to its erected or setup condition'the openings 47 and 48 take the form of semi-circular notch-like openings and, for convenience, the openings in the set up member will be referred to as notches.

Laterally extending panels 50, 56 are provided on the edges of panels 32, 32, hinged along score lines 51, 51.

ss and 71.

are preferably symmetrical with the respective score lines The opening which is designed to engage the article opposite the opening 47 in the bottom member, is preferably made to fit the same radius of curvature. Likewise, opening '75 is cut with a radius of curvature similar to the opening 48. With the panels 66 and 67 folded to lie against panels as and 62 respectively and panel 64 folded against panel 63, the two composite article engaging panels, indicated at es, till, will be folded into channel form; See FIGS. 2 and 7. The openings 74 and 755 willthen assume the form of curved notches somewhat shallower than the notches in the bottom member but of similar curvature.

The panel a2 is formed with a widened end portion which carries thereon a panel 76 hinged to the panel 62 along score line 77. The dimension of the panel 76 transverse to the channel of the top member 1?. is preferably approximately equal to the corresponding inside dimension of the container. This tends to prevent the top member from shifting within the container.

The top and bottom members are designed to be interlocked and for this purpose the panel 76 is formed with The edges of these panels preferably extend to the opposite side Walls of the conta ner to hold the bottom packing member centered within the container.

On the rear edges of panels 32, 32 there are provided elongated panels 53, 53 separated by slots 54, 54 from panels 33, 33 and from the upper ends of panels 32. The panels 53, 53 extend upwardly above the tops of the composite panels 32, 32 in the set-up condition of the member and provide cell walls or partition walls in the completed inner packing. If desired, the upper portions of the panels may be folded over along score lines 55. By folding panels 33, 33 and 39 to positions adjacent panels 32, 32 and 38 respectively and then folding the assembly into U-shape, as shown in FIG. 3, the bottom member is prepared for insertion into the container.

The top packing member 12, as shown in FIGS. 2, 6

and 7, also preferably comprises a single blank of fold- .able paperboard which is cut, scored and slotted to provide two multi-thickness,article-engaging panels at 60 connected by a top panel 61. These panels, in the prespanels 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 and 67. See

is hingedly carried by the central panel Panels 65, 66 and 67 are hinged nected to the central panel 62 along score line 72. Diecut openings 74 and 75 are formed in the group panel 63- and 64 and the panel group 65 and 66, these openings a pair of spaced notches 78, 78, leaving a tongue portion 79 therebetween. By moving the panel 76 down along the upstanding panels 53, 53, see FIGS. 2 and 3, the two sets of notches on the top and bottom members will mesh. Notches 78 will engage portions of the panels 32 and notches 54 will engage portions of the panel 76. The packing members will then be in the positions indicated in FIGS. 1, 8 and 9.

Advantage is preferably taken of the ends of the inner bottom panels'21 of the container to retain the bottom packing member centered more securely within the container. It is to be noted that the terrnirial edges 26, 26 of the panels 21, 21 are somewhat spaced apart. See FIG. 9. It is also to be noted that the panels 33, 33 and 39 are wider than the panels 32, 32 and 38 to which they are hinged and, when panels 33, 33 and 3: 3 are in their set-up position, their loweredges will project below the lower edges of their companion panels by an amount approximately equal to the thickness of the paperboard. See FIGS. 3 and 9. Thus, the lower edges of these inside panels are in position to engage laterally against the terminal edges 26 of the panels 21. Such edges will therefore tend to resist movement of the bottom members transversely to the planes of the composite panels 30, 3th

The door knob assembly which the present container and inner packing are designed'to carry has a shaft por tion connecting the knobs and on this shaft portion are spaced collars which are intended to fit against opposite sides of the door. In between the collars there is an enlarged cylindrical portion housing the locking and latch operating mechanism. I

When it is desired to pack articles such as door knob assemblies above described and indicated in broken lines in FIGS. 8 and 9, the container and the bottom and top packing members will first be set upas described and the bottom and top members may then be placed in their interlocked positions and inserted within the container as shown in FIG. 1. In the alternative the top member maybe inserted after the door knob assembly has been placed on the bottom member.

If the top member has been first interlocked with the bottom member the article engaging section may be swung upward about the score line 77 which will then easilyradmit the knob assembly. The enlarged portion of the assembly will be placed within the large sized notch 48 of the bottom member and the shaft portion will be received into Lhe smaller notch 47. The collars will be disposed adjacent the outside surfaces of the composite panels 30, 33*. The top member is then swung down to bring the outer faces of the composite panels 69, -60 along the inside surfaces of the collars and the larger notch 75 will engage the enlarged housing section on the knob assembly, while the smaller notch 74 will engage the shaft portion of the assembly. The door latch mechanism and the latch keeper, as well as keys, screws and any other items to accompany the knob assembly, may then be placed in the compartments formed by panels 53, 53 and 76. The container cover is then swung down into contact with the panel 62 of the top member and if desired, the cover may be held closed, by means of adhesive tape or by any other suitable means.

While reference has been made to top and bottom parts of the packing it is to be understood that this is only for convenience of description and the parts could be reversed without afiecting the basic principles involved.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the present invention provides a relatively simple and efficient arrangement of interior packing members which can be formed of corrugated paperboard or other light weight, inexpensive material. The container and the inner packing members may be delivered in flat form to the user and easily set up as desired.

By combining the article holding parts with transversely extending panels arranged to contact opposed walls or" the container the article may be held firmly within the container and out of contact with the walls even when the package is subjected to severe jolts in handling. Additionally, by providing abutment edges on the inside bottom flaps of the container which are arranged to engage parts on the bottom holding member, such member is further conditioned to resist shifting. Interlocking of the transversely extending panel on the top packing memher with the article holding panels of the bottom packing member not only adds rigidity to the inner packing, but also provides convenient compartments for retention of small parts required to be used with the principal article being packed.

While the present description sets forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, numerous changes may be made in the construction without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An arrangement formed entirely of foldable paperboard for packing and shipping cylindrical articles such as lock-type doorknob assemblies comprising, in combination: an outer rectilinear container having a horizontal bottom wall, pairs of vertical side and end walls upstanding therefrom, and a cover wall hingedly attached to one of the vertical walls; and a pair of separate inner upper and lower packing members disposed within the container, one of said members having an opening therein receiving a portion of the other member to afiord interlocking engagement between the members, said members each having panels with edge portions in abutting engagement with certain of the walls of the container to maintain the members in a fixed position within said container relative to said walls and to divide the interior of the container into separate compartments for receiving and supporting portions of said articles.

2. An arrangement formed entirely of foldable paperboard for packing and shipping a plurality of articles comprising, in combination: on outer rectilinear container having a horizontal bottom wall, pairs of vertical side and end walls upstanding therefrom, and a cover wall; and a pair of separate inner upper and lower packing members disposed within the container, one of said members having an opening therein receiving a portion of the other member to afiord interlocking engagement between the members, said members each having panels with edge portions in abutting engagement with certain of the walls of the container to maintain the members in a fixed position within said container relative to said walls and to divide the interior of the container into separate compartments for receiving and supporting said articles.

3. An arrangement formed entirely of foldable paperboard for packing and shipping an article which includes a pair of members joined by a connecting element comprising, in combination: an outer container having top, bottom, and side walls; and a pair of separate inner packing members disposed within the container, one of said members having an opening therein receiving a portion of the other member to alford interlocking engagement between the members, said members each having panels with edge portions in abutting engagement with certain of the walls of the container to maintain the members in a fixed position Within said container relative to said walls and to divide the interior of the container into separate compartments for respective members of said articles; said packing members having cooperating recessed portions extendin toward each other to define a common opening for receiving and supporting the connecting element of said article.

4. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein said packing members present a pair of outwardly facing fiat parallel surfaces disposed for respective abutting engagement with a pair of flat parallel inwardly facing surfaces presented by the container.

5. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein said packing members each include notched panels which are mutually received within one another to provide interlocking engagement between said packing members.

6. In a packing construction, the combination of a container formed of foldable paperboard having vertical side and end walls upstanding from a bottom wall, a pair of inner panels disposed on the inside surface of the bottom wall in engagement with certain of said vertical walls, said pair of panels having edge portions extending inwardly and terminating short of the mid-portion of the bottom wall to provide abutment edges, an inner packing member disposed within thecontainer on the inner panels, said inner packing member having a downwardly projecting portion extending within the space between the abutment edges of the inner panels and disposed to contact such edges so that the packing member is restrained from shitting within the container by such engagement.

7. A construction as defined in claim 6, in which the downwardly projecting portion on the inner packing member bears upon the bottom wall of the container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,314,491 Greenberg Mar. 23, 1943 2,564,729 Shepard Aug. 21, 1951 

